Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
How great the Guru is, only the Guru knows.
Whatever the Guru does is by the Guru's own will.
Your servants ask for the dust of the feet of holy people. Nanak says, I give myself to You, always.
At the close comes humble, glad love.
Satgur kee mahimaa satgur jaanai: "only the True Guru knows how great the True Guru is." Whatever happens flows from aapan bhaanai, the Guru's own loving will.
Then the devotees ask for one thing only: saadhoo Dhoor, "the dust of the feet of the holy." Dust is the humblest thing there is. It lies low, and it is open to everyone. To ask for it is to ask to be humble among holy people.
Think of a new player joining a great team. She does not ask to be the star. She asks to carry the water bottles and learn from everyone. She is glad just to be there.
Nanak ends by saying he is sad kurbaanaaN, forever giving himself. That is not about disappearing. It is deep humility and glad, whole-hearted love.
What is something you would give yourself to gladly and completely?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI